Mumbai: Mark Kimball, a computer scientist and motion picture technologist with more than 28 years experience in the movie industry, has been voted the John A. Bonner Medal of Commendation by the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Named in honor of the late director of special projects at Warner Hollywood Studios, the John A. Bonner Medal is awarded for "outstanding service and dedication in upholding the high standards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences."
Kimball who earlier shared a Scientific and Engineering Award in 1991 for the design and development of the "CAPS" production system for feature film animation will be given the award – a medallion –at the Scientific and Technical Awards Dinner on Saturday 7 February, at the Beverly Wilshire.
"For three decades, Mark has been at the forefront of technological advancements in motion pictures," said Academy President Sid Ganis. "His dedication to his craft and service to the Academy are both highly regarded in the industry."
Kimball earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from UCLA and a Master of Science degree in computer science and distributed systems from West Coast University in Los Angeles.
His career began in 1978 at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory as a system engineer with the Deep Space Network. In 1980 he moved to Walt Disney Productions, transferring in 1985 to Walt Disney Feature Animation, where he spent nearly two decades as the CAPS logistics system lead, a senior software systems specialist, a consulting engineer and finally as chief technologist. From 2004 through 2007, Kimball was director of digital production for The Walt Disney Company. Currently Kimball works as an independent media technology systems expert.
Kimball’s feature credits include "Tron," "Beauty and the Beast," "Aladdin," "The Lion King," "Pocahontas," "Dinosaur" and "Atlantis: The Lost Empire."
An Academy member since 1996, Kimball has served on the Scientific and Technical Awards Committee for 13 years, and in 2006 he was asked to join the Science and Technology Council.
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2008 will be presented on Sunday, February 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.
Portions of the Scientific and Technical Awards Presentations will be incorporated into the Oscar ceremony.
